President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan today accused the United States of
colluding with the Taleban to convince Afghans that foreign troops were
needed to secure peace after next year’s planned withdrawal of Nato forces.

A scheduled press conference between Mr Karzai and the visiting US Secretary
of Defence, Chuck Hagel, was cancelled shortly after he made the claim.

Tension between Kabul and Washington has been rising in recent weeks over
alleged abuses by US special forces in Wardak province, the transfer of
control of Bagram airbase and civilian casualties.